Bottle machine



March 16 1926.

. 1,577,131 R. LA FRANCE BOTTLE MACHINE Original Filed May 24. 1919 4 Sbeets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR March 1 6 1926. 1,577,131

R. LA FRANCE BOTTLE MACHINE Original Filed May 24. 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 0' l O I .5. 45 7 \J l v fly . O \I D o f 42 3 I I O INVENTOR 61 {M March 16 1926. 1,577,131

.R. LA {FRANCE BOTTLE MACHINE Original Filed May 24, 1919 4 Sheet-5-511691; 5

INVENTOR i4 @i March 16 1926.

R. LA FRANCE BOTTLE MACHINE Original Filed May 24 1919 4 Shecs sheet 4 INVEN'I'DR Patented Mar. iii, 1926.

UNl TE D sTAT f RICHARD LA FRANCE, oiToLEDo, onranssrenonro THE OWENS v or ToLEnqoHIo, A CORPORATION or OHIO.

a 1,577,131 PATENTO-FFICE.

BOTTLE COMPANY,

BOTTLE MACHINE.

Application filed May 24, 1919, Serial No. 299,430. Renewed March 21, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

- ,Be it knownfthat I, RICHARD LA FRANCE, a citizen of the United States,,residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bottle Machines, of which the followingis a specification. I d

The present invention relates to machines for reshaping or preventing distortion of bottles or other glass containers after they; are discharged from the usual; fin shing molds in which they are blown. I It is customary to discharge the bottles from the finishing molds while they are still very hot and in a somewhat plastic state. In making certain kinds of bottles, such as siphons or other bottles of considerable size and weight, the bottles are not always sufiiciently hardened or set, when the finishing molds are opened to retain their shape, or support their 7 own weight: without partially collapsing or becoming distorted.

' The primary object of the present invention is to overcome this difiiculty and for this purpose there is provided a machine comprising a set of reforming molds to receive thebottles when they are taken from the usualblowing molds. The re-forming molds, which-may be mounted-on a continuously rotating mold table, are closed on the I bottles and air pressure supplied through in succession to re-blow t 1e. bottles to their normal'shape if they have become distorted.

The air pressure is maintained in each mold fora short interval only, but the bottles are supportedfinthe molds for a longer time,

during which: they cool sufliciently to retain their shape whenthe molds are open, per mitting them to be transferred to the leer.

A further advantage of the present invention is that 'it permits the bottles to be taken fromthe usual blow molds while "hotterthan would otherwise be permissible.

The length oftime the bottles arecrequired the machine correspond. p p

' cam segment projecting from the center column into proximity to the mold path;

the following description taken in connec-. tion with theaccompanying drawings, while the scope of the invention will be more par ticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In said drawings: a

of a machineconstructed in accordance with the present invention, the planes of section being vertical and indicated bythe lines 11 of Figs. 2 and 8; V Figure 2 is a plan view of the entire machine; I p Figure 3 is a plan view of the blow-head supporting arms showing particularlythe cam bywhiclrsaid arms are actuated;

Figure 4i is a transverse sectionofsaid cam and one of saidsupporting arms, the plane of section being indicated by the line 4 1: Of Fig; :3;

Figure 5 is a front view of the blow-head and associated molds, illustrating particularly the locking device for holding the separable parts of the molds together;

Figure 6 is a View illustrating one-half of a mold with a bottle inposition and the asso ciated air supply passage and control valve in the blow-head, thelatter beingshown in vertical section; I

Figure 7 is' a side elevation of a portion of the machine illustrating particularly the blow-head'and its associated parts in raised position above the molds; I I FigureS is a plan view-of the base, the center columnrbeing shown in section taken on a plane indicated byrtherline 88 of Fig.1; i i

Figured?) is a sectional viewof aportion of the'base showing particularly the retaina ing screws by which the'machine is held in a fixed position upon the floor. I Throughout these views :like characters refer to like: parts. v i

Referring to the drawingsin detail, A designates the base of the machine; B a center column supported uponlthe base; C arotary mold carrying table, rotatable about thecenter column; '1) a fixed support or E a blow-head having a, cyclicanovement into and out of engagement with the molds; F an oscillating arm 01 g1YlI1g,.tl1G;blO'\Vj I head its horizontal movement; G an @3011 lating arm for givlngthe blows-head its vertical movement H the molds upon the table C; and J connections for supplying air under pressure to the blow-head E.

The base A consists of a suitable metal casting having an upwardly extending an nular portion andoutwardly extending flat portions 11. lVebs 12 unite these two portions and give strength to the base. while keeping its weight at a minimum. The general shape of the base in plan is triangular and at two corners of the triangle small wheels 13 are journaled on horizontal axes. At the third corner asmall caster wheel 14 is journa-led in a caster 15 whose stem 16 is journaled in a boss 17 formed in the horizontal portion of the base. A rod 18 having a nut or head on its inner end extends through anopening in the upper end of the stem 16 and by means of this rod the stem 16 may be turned to steer the machine as it is being moved about over the floor 19. When the machine has been moved into position for operation, it is held in such position by screws 20 which enter sockets set in the floor. These screws are located ad jacent to the wheels 13 and 14, and, in each instance, threaded through an opening in a boss 21 formed in the portion 11 of the base,

as clearly illustrated in Fig. 9. The upper end of the screw 20 is provided with a capstan head and the lower end with a projecting point 23 whichis adapted to enter an opening in a socket 24 suitably secured to the floor 19, preferably by being set into it, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 9. lVhen the machine has been positioned the screws 20 are turned down so as to enter the socket members 24. If desired, this action may be continued until the base is raised clear of the wheels 13 andf11 oruntil it is raised sufficiently to take the strain off of those wheels.

A look nut 25 on each screw serves to hold the screw against displacement by any vibration of the machine when in operation. That portion of the base opposite the caster wheel 14 is provided with a. bracket 251 (Figs. 1 and 8) having a sleeve 26 which serves as a hanger for a. short vertical shaft 27 which terminates at its upper end in a pinion 28 and at its lower end in a socket for the reception of the end of a drive shaft 29. lVhen' the machine is in proper position the shafts 27 and 29 are coupled by inserting the latter into the former as described and driving one or more keys 30 into keyways formed in the two shafts. This coupling of the two shafts may be accomplished in various ways; If the shaft 29 is vertically movable, then all that is necessary isto move it up into the socket end ofthe shaft 27 and key the parts together. If the shaft 29 is fixed then the coupling may be accomplished by removing and replacing the bracket 25, together with the shaft 27, when the machine has been brought into correct position; The shaft 27 is "prevented fronrhaving a vertical movement by collars 31 and 32 which are firmly secured to it. The collar 32 is also provided with a skirt 33 which surrounds the upper end of the sleeve 36 and keeps dust or moisture from the hearing. A grease cup 3 1 is also screwed into an opening in the sleeve 26. M This cup furnishes lubricant for the shaft 27. In Figure 8 the position of the table C relative to the base A is shown by the dotted line In that figure also, the capstan heads upon the screws 20 are shown provided with short rods or handles 36 for use in turning screws.

The central column B consists of a metal casting of cylindrical form which is provided with a flange 37 at its lower end which fits against cooperating flange 38 on the base A. The column and base are secured together by means of bolts 39 which pass through these flanges and are firmly secured in place by nuts 10. I

The table .0 is a large circular casting having a central hub 41, a series of spokes or arms 42 and a fiat peripheral portion 13. These parts are strengthened by annular ribss t and 415, and radial ribs 16 and 17. The hub fits closely against the outer surface. of the column B and is supported by the base A. Ball bearings 48 are interposed between the hub 11 and the base A so as to reducefriction. These. bearings lie between rings 49, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. A circular rack 50 is secured to the webs 46 upon the under side-of the table C at suitable points by any suitable means as screws 51. This rack is positioned so as to mesh with the pinion 28. lVith this construction it will be apparent that as the driving shaft 29 rotates, the pinion 28 and rack 50 will cooperate'to rotate the table C.

The molds H are carried on the peripheral portion 43 of-the table C and as there shown each mold is composed of halves or sect-ions 52, 53 and a bottom plate 53. These sections are pivotally mounted upon a vertical pivot 5a. Each section is connected by a link 55 to a reciprocating member 56 which is normally pressed outward by a spring 57 and which may be'moved inward by means of a cam wheel 58 engaging a cam track 59 upon the under side of the stationary arm D. W'henever a mold is occupying a position in which the associated wheel 58 is in engagement with the cam track 59 the mold sections are moved about their pivot '54 into the open position illustrated at the left in Fig. WVhenever the wheel 58 passes out of engagement with C. The spring -7 is coiled about the guide rods 61 and 62." The latter rod is 'secured' at its inner endto the hub 4 The former rod is secured'at its outer end to the reciprocatingfinember' 56. Nuts 63 are posi .tlOllQClOll the rodfil'and may be screwed back and forth to vary the adjustment of the spring 5'7. When the nuts are screwed to the right,-as viewed in' Fig.- 1, the" force-of the spring 571s increased, and

when screwed to the left, the force of the spring is decreased. At points between'the reciprocating members-56, the annular member is provided with; projections or brackets to which a'second annular rack is secured by means of screws 66. This rack, like the rack 50,"n1oves with the table C but instead of being'used to drive the table it is usedto drive a vertical cam shaft 67 journaled in a bearing 68 an the stationary frame I). This camshaft projects up through an opening in the oscillating arm F and carries the cam 69 which is used] in osclllatingthe arm F lIOIIZODCtIll'Y and the arm G vertically. I The bearing for the cam shaft is lubricated by means of a lubricant passing down from the 011 cup The outer end of theweb D s pro vided with a series of rollers 71 upon which the oscillating arm F rid-es, The latter is provided with 'a wear plate 72'on'its under side for engagement with the rollers 71.

The arm F isprovi-ded 'with'a hub 73 which is fitted upon the column B so that the army is free to rotate. This rotation, however, is limited by cam 69 as we shall see. The arm F is provided with a cam wheel 74: which travels in a cam track 75 on the under side or" the cam 69 The cam track is shaped. as clearly illustratedin dotted lines in Fig. 3, so that as theca'm' 69 rotates, the arni F will be reciproca-Jed to and fro through ashort arc, and its move n'lent will be facilitated by the anti-friction rollers 71, heretofore referred to. r I

The arm (at 'is'pivoted to a bracket 76 secured to the column The pivotal connection is: such that the arm G is free tomove in a vertical direction. is provided with a roller 77 journaled in bearings formed in "projections 78 extend-j 'ing from the under side of the arm. In this inst-anc.e,,the bearingsare lubricated from an 011 cup 79.. the'fcain surface 80 upon the cam 69. This The roller 77 travels on surface iscircular with refer-ence to the axis of the cam but is shaped to raise and lower the roller 77 as the cam is rotated.

, The shape of this portion of the cam is shown more particularly in Figs. 1, 1 and 7. The blow-head E consists of ,a blow-head frame,compris ng the parts 81 and82, ans

:1 head 'proper88. The latter makes direct contact with the molds and supplies airtun der pressure directly to the bottles in the This arm,

molds to reblow'them. The two *partsof .t-he frame, which are preferably castings,

are adjustably connected and serve .as the connecting means between the head 83 and the oscillating arms F and G, the part 81" directly engaging said arms and the part 82 carrying the head. The relative posi-- tions of the parts 81 and 82 maybe ad-- justed by means of athreaded rod 8% which is journaled' to rotate in the part 81 without longitudinal movement but has threadedengagement with an opening in the part 82. As the rod 8 1 is rotated, by the appli cation of a wrench 'orfother' suitable tool to, its head 85, the parts Stand 82 of the blow-head are adjusted vertically withrefer-' enceto each other; The part 81 carries a the adjacent portion of t e arm F. I

From'this description it, will be seen that theblow-head E will be raised wheneverv the outer end'of the arm G is raised by the cam surface 80. Likewise, it. will be reciprocated horizontally whenever the free end of the arm is reciprocated by reason of the engagement of its cam wheel 74 with,

cam track 75. These calnsurfaces are soj positioned that the blow-head has acyclic movement. from a starting point down to the molds, then along with the molds while in. itslower'mold-engaging position, the-n upward away from the molds and finally back in an elevated position to the starting point. This movement ismade up, ofthe component horizontal and vertical fmove .ments furnlshed by oscillatlons of thearms Fand G. y

hen the blow-head Edescendsjinto position where its heads 83 engage' the molds" then, the springlpressed yokes f91 and 5) are moved downward to engage -projections 92 upon the divided halves ef the moldto force those halves together and, in in each instance, to lock the mold in its closed position. As clearly'shown in Fig. 5', the lnner surfaces of the locking member 91 are inclined inward and upward and consequently as thelyoke moves downward, the projections 92 are moved together and the parts of the mold are firmly held'closed. In each instance, the yoke 91 is secured to the lower end of a rod 93 which passes through a vertical guide way 94; in the part 82 of theblowhead E, and adjusting nuts 95 are screwed on its upper end to properly adjust the. position of the yoke withreference to the head. In the cyclicmovement of the head E, the yokes 91 engagethepro- You jections 92 to lock the molds at the time when the head is moving downward toward the molds. These locks remain in locking engagement during the travel of thehead in contact with the molds and do not leave that engagement until the head moves upward away from the molds just prior to returning to its starting point.

The blow-head E is preferably provided with two heads 83 which engage the molds and through which air under pressure is supplied to bottles in the molds. In the case of each of these heads, a tubular extension 96 on the under side of the part 82 of the head providesa guide way for the shank 97 of a plug-like member 98. This latter member forms part of the head 83 and is provided with an air passage 99; The latter is in communication with the interior of a pipe or tube 100 which extends freely through an opening in the part 82 so as to be movable relative to it. This movement in one direction is brought about by a coiled spring 101 which surrounds the tube 100 and bears at one end against the plug member 98 and at its other end against a portion of the part 82. The movement of the tube 100 under the influence of the spring 101 is limited bya stop 102 which is in the form of a sleeve surrounding the tube 100 and secured in adjusted position by set screw 103. hen in limiting positionfthe stop 102 engages the upper face of the part 82 of the head E. The. movement of the rod 1.00 in opposition to the spring 101 is brought about by the engagement of the head 83 with the mold at the time the blowhead E descends. The complete head 83 includes not only the plug-like member 98 but also the member 104 which is providedwlth a central air passage 105 and has a.

lost motion connection with the plug 98. The lost motion is provided by means of a ring 106 which carries at its lower end a flange 107 which cooperates with a flange 108 upon the upper end of the member 104-. The member 10 1 is also provided with a ring 109 which directlyengages the mold H, and between the flanged end of this ringand the member 104: is an apertured asbestos member 110 which comes directly into engagement with the end of the bottle within the mold. The aperture in the latter member registers with the passage 105. The

flanged ring 106 also secures the valve seat 111 in place in tight engagement with the under side of the plug 98. Vith this construction, the parts 104, 109 and 110 have a free limited movement'with reference to the parts 98, 106 and 111. A valve112 is located in an enlargement of the air passage 99 and is normally forced downward by a spring 113 into engagement with the seat 111. However, when the head 83 is moved downward into engagement with the mold H, the member 10% is moved upward 'into' engagement with the lower end of the valve 112, and the latter is thereby raised from its seat against the pressure of the spring 113 and air is free to pass from the tube 100 through the passage 99 past the valve and.

dicated in Fig. 2. \Vhen the machine is thus running an attendant takes the more or less plastic bottles from the machine in which they have been blownand from which they are taken before they are sufficiently cooled to retain their shapeand places them in the open molds H in the receiving positions 118. shown more paricularly in Fig. 2. The molds with the bottles in them then pass on to a point ad jacent to the blow-head E. At th s point the cam track 59 terminates and the molds are closed through the action of the associated springs 57. Then the blow-head descends upon the molds and the yokes 91 securely lock them in closed position. As the blow-head E descends each head 83 engages the upper end of a mold and by moving the member 101 upward opens the valve 112 and air under pressure flows into the bottle in the mold. This application of air reblows the bottle and restores it to normal shape it it has become distorted. The mold cavities of the molds H are preferably the same size and shape as those of the molds from which the bottles have been transferred, or may be slightly larger.

While this reblowing is taking place the molds continue their travel and the blowhead travels with them. Finally the blowhead is withdrawn from the molds and the members 10% of the heads 83 return to nor-.

mal and allow the valves 112 to close and thus shut off the air supply. The molds with their reblown bottles in them continue their travel until the point is reached where the molds are again opened by the cam track the cam 69.

from the machine. The operation is continuous, as Wlll be apparent from the description given. In a machine constructed on the'lines herein disclosed, the arm may be given a movement of aboutthree degrees in order to move the blow-head intoandout of engagement with the traveling molds.

e cesceno e ie'ac occurs -'ust aft r it Thl tfthl l 1* e t begins itsti'avel in the samedirection asthe .molds and its rise occurs just before it reaches the end of its movement in that direction. This action is brought about by properly arranging the cam surfaces upon In the embodiment of the machine on the lines depictedxin thi application I find that satisfactory results are obtained by maintaining the blow-head in blowing position upon the bottles during a travel of the molds through approximateiy seven inches.

. maybe made in the parts disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of, the

invention. I aim to cover all such alterations and modifications by the terms of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is: c I

1. A .bottle machine comprising molds travel ng in a substantially llOl'lZOlltEl-l plane, anoscillating arm movable ina sub-,

stantially horizontal plane, an oscillating arm' movable in a substantially vertical plane, a blow-headcarried by said arms'and subject to the movement ofboth, said blowhead being positioned above the traveling molds and operative to engage said molds during a portion of their travel, and means for supplying air under pressure to the bottles in the molds during such engagement.

2. In a bottle machine, a support, an arm mounted on said support so as to move in a horizontal plane, a cam and connections for oscillating said arm, 'a second arm mounted on saidsupport so as to move in a vertical plane, a cam and connections for oscillating said second arm, and a. blowhead carried by said arms, said head being free to move vertically'with reference to saidfirst arm and horizontally with reference to said second arm, whereby it is given acyclic movement in response to the oscillations of said arms.

3. In a bottle machine, a support, vertically and horizontally movable blow-head supporting arms mounted on said support,

cams andconnections for giving each of I The extent of movement of. the arm G and the period of rotation during which blowing occurs are, of course, matters vertically and the U other horizontally,--a blow-head having a part provided with air said. arms, guidingmeans' onsai'd horizontally'inovablc arm forguiding said second connections andfasecond-part for engaging part vertically, a track on said vertically.

movable 'ar n over which said secondpart travels horizontally,; and means for ad usting the relative positions OfS8J1Cl/1)&ftS.i--j- 4. In a bottle :machine,' l"a main support,

vertically and horizontally movable blowhead supporting arms mounted on said main support, an auxiliary support extending from said main support outward beneath said arms, a track and rollers on said auxiliary support and said horizontally movable armfor facilitating the oscillatory movements of said arm, a shaftcarried by saidauxiliary support, a'cam on said shaft having cam surfaces coacting with said- .arms to, give them their respective oscillatorymovements, and a blow-head carried by u said arms and subject to their oscillatory movements. y

5. In abottle machine, the combination of dividedmolds, means to cause the moldsto molds at definite points in their travel, a

blow-head, automatic 'ineans for bringing said head into engagementwith said molds Y and causing it to travel with the. molds for short-periods when said molds are closed,-

and means actuated in response to the movement of said head to firmly lock the molds in position by their engagement with said head,

6. A. reshaping and cooling machine-constructed and adapted to receive hollow glass articles of finished forinfas delivered from a forming machine andwhile they are too soft andplastic to maintain their shape, and

reshape and cool said articles, said reshaping machine comprising divided molds traveling in a closed path and conforming in s ze and shape to said articles as dis charged from the forming machine, auto thus in engagement, upward away from said molds, and back to the starting point out of engagement with said molds, and means for supplying air to said articles in the molds during such peiiods of engagement.

7. A reshaping and cooling machine constructed and adapted to receive hollow glassarticles of finished form as delivered 7 from a forming machine and while they are too softandplastic to maintain their shape,

and reshape and cool said articles, said reshaping machine comprising a mold table, automatic means to rotate it, divided molds on said table conforming in size and shape to said articles of finished form, automatic means IGSPOHSl G to the rotation of said table to open and close said molds at definite points in their travel, a blow-head, automatic means for bringing said head into engagement with a mold While the latter is closed, and causing it to travel with the mold during a definite portion of the travel of the mold and then withdraw, means for supplying air under pressure to said head, a valve for controlling the supply of air under pressure from said head to the article 15 in the mold with which the head is engaged, and means for automatically opening said valve during the engagement of said head with the mold.

In testimony whereof,- I hereunto .sub- 20 scribe my name this 20th day of May, 1919.

RICHARD LA FRANCE. 

